Police search for suspects in ‘Pigeon Drop’ scam

JACKSON, Tenn. — An elaborate scam targeting a specific group of Jackson residents has police searching for two suspects. Officers said it is not a new scheme but that they are worried more people may fall victim.

Jackson police caught the most recent scam on camera, where two suspects are accused of preying on the kindness of others. They say this most recent incident happened late last week and that their suspects took the victim for $5,000.

“They practiced it and have done it over and over again,” Lt. Jeff Sheppard with the Jackson Police Department said. “When they find someone that out of the goodness of their heart is trying to help, they make them a victim instead.”

It’s called the “Pigeon Drop,” and officers said in the most recent case it started when a disheveled black man approached a victim, who is usually African American, and said he has inherited thousands of dollars but does not trust banks.

“They seem to be targeting African Americans and using this aspect that black people aren’t able to use banks like other people can,” Lt. Sheppard said.

Next, the suspect convinces the victim to drive him to the hospital so he can go to the bathroom. That is where they “coincidentally” meet a third man police have dubbed “Mr. Clean,” and it was all caught on camera.

“This time they slipped up and went into one of the places where there’s more cameras than anywhere else,” Lt. Sheppard said.

The clean-cut, professional-looking man bumped into the two out front and was then brought into the banking conversation.

“It’s to make it more believable,” Lt. Sheppard said. “He says, ‘oh yeah, I’ll help out. I’ll show you how to use a bank and how they work.'”

Police said all three then drove to a north Jackson bank where “Mr. Clean” showed he can withdraw a few thousand dollars and convinces the victim to do the same. Both end up putting the cash in the same bag and leave it for the victim to watch over while the suspects run an errand.

“In reality they put another bag in the truck that has just paper in it, and then they don’t come back,” Lt. Sheppard said. “When they look, they realize they’ve been duped.”

If you can identify the suspects in this scam or feel you might be a victim, call Jackson police at 731-425-8400.